Which protocol does the Sophos XG Firewall primarily use for email filtering?

The Sophos XG Firewall primarily uses SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) for email filtering. This protocol is specifically designed for sending and receiving email messages over the internet, making it the standard method for email transmission.

When the firewall processes incoming email traffic, it utilizes SMTP to inspect, filter, and control email content based on predefined policies. This includes features like anti-spam and anti-phishing measures, allowing the firewall to detect and block potentially harmful or unwanted messages before they reach the user’s inbox. Focusing on SMTP enables the Sophos XG Firewall to effectively combat various email-based threats, ensuring a secure email environment for organizations.

The other protocols mentioned, such as IMAP, HTTP, and FTP, serve different purposes and do not play a primary role in email filtering. IMAP is used for retrieving and managing email from a server, while HTTP handles web traffic, and FTP is designed for transferring files over a network. Therefore, none of these are relevant to the primary function of email filtering by the Sophos XG Firewall.